Rotary steam-engine.



Patented Dec.7,1 909.

2 SHEETS SHEET 1 W. B. MINUE.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE,

APPLICATION FILED FEB.25. 1909.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

2 SHEEiI's-SHEET Z.

A I r fiiiizam mm UNITED sTATEsPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. MINUE, 0F FBEDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWlICK, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM G. BURTT, OF FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

Specification of Iietters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1909.

Application filed February 25, 1909. Serial No. 479,976.

Brunswick, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Steam-Engines, of which the followlng 1s a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. a

This invention relates to steam engmes, and more particularly to engines of the rotary type.

The primary object of the present lnvention is to produce a rotary steameng'lne which will be simple and durable in construction and eflicient in operation.

To such end, the invention comprehends a novel arrangement of parts or general combination in the engine, and also novel features in the special parts making up sald combination or arrangement.

While the characteristics of the invention will more fully hereinafter appear, it may be here noted that they include the following, to wit: the combination with a casing having therewithin an abutment and a rotatable member cooperating with the abutment, of means whereby the parts are operatively associated in a way to necessitate the provision of packing at one end only of the casing; the combinationwith high and low pressure chambers, rotatable pistons operating therein, and means connecting the piston members whereby they operate in consonance; the combination with an engine of the rotary type having an internal abutment, an outer rotary member provided with piston members cooperating with the abutment, and a casing surrounding said outer member and spaced therefrom to prov de a dead-air space or vacuum chamber therebetween whereby to preserve the greatest possible heat on the interior of the engine to maintain the efiiciency of the latter, while on the other hand preventing transmission of the heat to the exterior so that said exterior will remain in a cool condition; flexibly associated packing members arranged to surround an abutment, said packing members being carried by the rotary portion of the engine bearing the pistons cooperating with said abutment; an expansible outwardly thrusting packing ring interposed between the casing of the engine and the end of the abutment support; a special formation of swinging pistons adapted to receive the full force and effect of the steam' when in their active or open position, while permitting the passage of steam therearound to equalize the pressure and enable easy opening of the pistons from their closed position; the combination with cooperating relatively rotatable valve members having ports adapted to be brought into and out of registration, of means manually controllable for readjusting or rearranging said valve members should the engine stop with the ports of the valve members out of reglst-ration or closed against the passage of steam therethrough; and, in combination with an abutment, a rotatable member associated therewith, and swinging pistons carried by the latter adapted to be alternately opened and closed to cooperate with the abutment, of means for positively opening and closing the pistons, and a casing inclos- 1ng said means and carrying a quantity of lubricant whereby said means will be constantly oiled.

All of the foregoing, together with other details in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my engine will be clear from the detailed description thereof hereinafter contained when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and wherein a convenient embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is however, to be understood that while I will herein disclose said special embodiment of my invention, it is not with the intention of being limited thereto inasmuch as other embodiments may be resorted to, differing materially from the arrangement and details shown, but without departing from the spirit of the invention, all of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings; Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the engine; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the operating parts in one position; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in another position; Fig. 4 is an end view of the engine; Fig. 5 is a section on the line w-w of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow; and Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line yg of the same figure. Fig. 7 is an elevation; Fig. 8 is an end view, and Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the hollow shaft upon which the abutment is fixed. Fig. 10 is a detail section of one of the spring packing rings, Fig. 11 is a sectional view of one of the pistons detached; Fig. 12 is a sectional view through the casing showing the flexible packing therein adapted to surround the inclosed abutment, and Fig. 13 is a detail View showing the interfitting at the corners of the flexible packing shown in Fig. 12.

Referring more specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views, A represents supports upon which supporting columns B, C, are mounted to in turn support the engine therebetween. In the column B, I secure a ring D fastened by means of bolts d, said ring having at its inner edge a flange (Z in the inner face of which is formed a cam-way 6Z2 for a purpose to be presently pointed out.

Within the ring D and splined thereto as at 6 whereby to be permanently fixed against movement, is one end of a hollow shaft or sleeve E, the same being stepped to increase its diameter and provide shoulders 6 e Secured flush with the shoulders just referred to are fixed abutments F, F secured to the shaft by bolts f, f. Between the two abutments and extending entirely around the interior of the engine, is a partition 9 fixed to and rotatable with a cylinder Gr, said cylinder being closed at its ends by a casing H entirely surrounding the same having a bearing h at one end packed as at it upon the sleeve E, while being entirely closed or imperforate at its opposite end 72?. The casing just referred to carries at its closed end a shaft H having a suitable bearing in the column C.

The interior of the closed end if of the casing is formed with a circular channel 75 in which a corresponding axially disposed flange 6 on the hollow shaft or sleeve E projects, this construction constituting a support for the end of the sleeve or shaft E. In this way it will be seen that the rotatable outer member is supported from the column C, while the fixed inner or abutment carrying member is supported from the column B, the fixed and rotatable members being otherwise supported through their engagement with each other. In peripheral recesses 2' on the interior of the cylinder G, I fit swinging piston members I pivoted upon rods 2' passing through the ends of the easing H, the partition 9 and hollow bearings at the inner ends of said pistons. These pistons are in two series, one on the interior of a high pressure cylinder J at one side of the partition g, and the other at the opposite side of said partition within a low pressure cylinder J. The means however, which mount the pistons in place are such that they act in unison whereby both the high and low pressure portions of the engines act in consonance. The means for swinging the pistons outwardly and inwardly as the case may be, to cooperate with the abutments F, F, comprises cranks i" on the ends of the rods i engaging the camway (Z projecting inwardly from the ring D before referred to, said ring and camway being fixed against rotation as defined.

It is desirable that the cams and camway be constantly lubricated to facilitate their operation and prolong their length of service and to this end I secure onto the casing H an oil cap K having an inwardly extending return flange 7c bearing upon the ring I) to prevent escape of oil incident to the carrying of the oil upwardly on the interior of the cap during the rotation of the latter.

The means for controlling the admission. and exhaust of the steam first into the high pressure chamber J and thence into the low pressure chamber J may now be described. Secured to the head L, bolted at l to the outer end of the hollow sleeve or shaft E, is a tubular casing M snugly fitting the interior of said hollow shaft or sleeve E and provided with openings m communicating with an annular chamber m at the inner end of the sleeve, the latter in turn opening into a port N discharging into the high pressure chamber J. The amount of steam admitted in this manner is dependent upon a governor controlled valve 0 fitting a valve seat P surrounding the same and interposed between the valve and the casing M. The valve is adapted to remain fixed against rotary movement but is capable of longitudinal adjustment through the medium of its stem 0 projecting outwardly through the head L and connected to the lever 0 of a centrifugal ball governor 0 the governor being operated through the medium of a pinion 0 on the stem 0* thereof which projects inwardly through the ring D and into the interior of the cap K, the pinion 0 in turn meshing with a toothed rim 0 on the rotatable casing H (see Fig. l). The valve 0 has a series of passages 72 adapted to be brought into and out of registration with a complementary number of passages 12 in the seat P, whereby the size of the openings communicating with the openings in and high )ressure chamber is automatically controlle. Inasmuch as the valve 0 is as stated, held against rotation, it is obvious that the seat P must rotate, and to that end said seat is provided with a pair of lugs Q fitting enlarged grooved portions Q in the end ll? of the casing H. It will be seen that as the casing rotates in either direction, each lug Q will contact an end wall of the grooves Q and be rotated therewith. The elongation of the grooves Q enables the manual turning of the cylindrical valve seat P through the medium of the hand piece P on the stem of the same independently of the rotary parts of the engine to realine or readjust the valve whereby to open the same and afford a passage for the steam should the engine at any time stop with the passages p p out of registration and therefore with the valve closed.

The manner of packing the parts will now be given further consideration. So far as the casing H andv the tubular shaft or sleeve E are concerned, it is readily seen that the same need only be packed at h. The interior of the casing is further packed as shown at R between the shoulders e e of the sleeve E the partition 9 and the end walls of the casing H. This packing consists of split rings 1" held against rotation by pins r and having beveled inner surfaces 1 arranged to bear upon outwardly beveled grooves r as shown, whereby the normal opening tendency of the rings and the cooperation between the beveled surfaces referred to will thrust the rings outwardly into impingement with the inner surfaces of the end walls of the casing H and against the partitions e as the case may be.

The ends of the pistons I work back and forth in depressions S in the end walls of the casing H, the contact of the piston against the outer shoulder of said depression constituting an effectual seal during the working of the pistons. The free edge of the piston, however, which works around the abutment F and the hollow sleeve or shaft R, is provided with a packing s seated in a groove therein, and the hinge end of the same is provided with a similar packing s sealing the space around said end when the piston is in working condition, but permitting passage of steam through a port 8 communicating with the channel 8 in the face of the piston, whereby the steam may pass entirely around the piston when in its closed position, thus preventing any severe resistance which might otherwise be present against the free or ready opening or shifting of the piston from its closed to its open position.

Arranged in sufficient number around the interior of the cylinder G and of course within both the high and low pressure chambers so that two or more of the same will at all times engage the side surfaces and the outer edge of the abutments FF', are a series of flexibly connected packing strips T, the same being seated in grooves formed on the interior of the rim or cylinder G and in the opposite side walls of the casing H and partition g, the alined strips being connected together through the medium of a mortise and tenon joint t whereby each member may be independently movable against the tension of a spring t therebeneath, while at all times having a mutual sealing engagement entirely around the abutments. The strips are held against excessive outward movement by securing screws 6 and their case of adjustment is permitted by steam passages t permitting steam to pass freely therearound. The packing in the ends of the pistons I is formed and secured in place in the same manner save that instead of having apertures for the passage of steam, the ends of the packing are notched as at i for that purpose.

In the hollow shaft or sleeve E at a point opposite the port N which admits the steam to the high pressure cylinder, I provide a port U passing around the hollow interior of the sleeve E and diagonally across the axis thereof to open at V into the low pressure chamber J from which latter the steam may escape through the lateral opening IV in the sleeve communicating with a longitudinal passage w in the sleeve opening to the exhaust w in the head L, the supply pipe being shown at w A pulley or flywheel Z is bolted as at 2 to the rim or cylinder G. From the foregoing description it is believed the operation of my engine may now be followed. Steam being admitted through the supply pipe P passes through the head L into the interior of the hollow shaft or sleeve E whence it enters the cylindrical valve casing P and valve 0 and passes outwardly through the alined openings 7) 1) thereof and through the port N into the high pressure cylinder J, where the expansion of the steam acting against the outwardly projecting piston I in opposition to the abutment F rotates the piston, the cylinder G, the casing H, the shaft H, the pulley or wheel Z, the oil cap K, the partition 9 and the cranks (F, the other parts being held against rotation. The steam in the high pressure cylinder remains active until the operating piston commences to close under the action of the abutment F when the steam passes through the ports U, V into the low pressure cylinder, from which it is in turn exhausted through the lateral opening W, passage to and exhaust w, hence after the first operation of the high pressure portion of the engine both the high pressure and low pressure sections operate in unison, for as the high pressure cylinder receives a fresh supply of steam the low pressure cylinder receives the exhaust from said high pressure cylinder and gives off its final exhaust as just referred to. The inlet is of course automatically controlled by the rotatable valve seat P and reciprocating valve 0.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a rotary steam engine, high and low pressure cylinders, abutments therein, swinging pistons adapted to cooperate with said abutments, means connecting the pistons in both cylinders together, and means operatively associated with said connecting means for simultaneously opening and closing the pistons in both cylinders to effect their operation in consonance, in combination with a steam supply and valve mechanism for similarly controlling the admission and ex haust from the high and .low pressure cylinders.

2. In an engine of the character described, an abutment, a cylinder, swinging pistons in said cylinder adapted to cooperate with said abutment, means for shifting the pistons from inactive to active position, and an oil cap inclosing said means whereby the latter may be constantly lubricated.

3. In an engine of the character described, relatively rotatable and non-rotatable members arranged to cooperate to actuate the rotatable member, a fly wheel secured to the periphery of the rotatable member, and a casing surrounding the engine, spaced there from and extending from the opposite sides of the fly wheel, substantially as described.

4:. In an engine, relatively rotatable and non-rotatable members arranged to cooperate to effect actuation of the rotatable member, means for supporting the non-rotatable member at its outer end, means for supporting the rotatable member at its outer end,

and mutual engagements between the inner end of the rotatable member and the supported end of the nonrotatable member and between the inner end of the non-rotatable member and the supported end of the r0- tatable member constituting their intermediate support in combination with power transmitting means carried by and operable with the rotatable member.

5. In an engine, relatively rotatable and non-rotatable members arranged to cooper ate to effect actuation of the rotatable member, means for supporting the non-rotatable member at its outer end, means for supporting the rotatable member at its outer end, and mutual engagements'between the inner end of the rotatable member and the supported end of the non-rotatable member and between the inner end of the non-rotatable member and the supported end of the rotatable member constituting their intermediate support, the rotatable member being on the outside of the non-rotatable member and completely inclosing the latter save at one end, in combination with a packing at said end in combination with power transmitting means carried by and operable with the rotatable member.

6. In an engine, relatively rotatable and nonrotatable piston and cylinder members arranged to cooperate to effect actuation of the rotatable member, a packing between said members including an expansible split ring having a beveled surface, a beveled groove in one of the members in which said ring is seated and by which the said ring under its expansive tendency is thrust outwardly into engagement with the surface of the other member, and means on one of the members arranged to engage the packing ring to prevent turning of the same relative to said member, said means comprising interfitting projecting and recessed portions on the piston and cylinder members.

7. In an engine, relatively rotatable and non-rotatable piston and cylinder members arranged to cooperate to effect actuation of the rotatable member, a packing between said members including an expansible split ring having a beveled surface, a beveled groove in one of the members in which said ring is seated and by which the said ring under its expansive tendency is thrust outwardly into engagement with the surface of the other member, in combination with a pin fixed on one of the members interposed between the ends of the split ring to prevent rotation of the latter relative to said memher.

8. I11 an engine, relatively rotatable and non-rotatable members, one having shiftable pistons and the other an abutment arranged to cooperate to effect actuation of the rotatable member, means arranged axially of said members for positively shifting said pistons, a casing inclosing said means, valve mechanism, and means for automatically controlling said valve mechanism including a governor connected therewith and having a shaft extending into said casing, a pinion on said shaft, and a toothed rim on the rotatable member of the engine meshing with the pinion, said pinion and rim being also housed by said casin 9. In a rotary engine, a valve mechanism therefor including complementary cylindrical valve members having openings adapted to register, means holding one of said members against rotation, and means whereby the other of said members will rotate with the engine, said last mentioned means being formed to permit independent rotation of said member, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. I11 a rotary engine, valve mechanism therefor including complementary cylindrical valve members having openings adapted to register, means holding one of said members against rotation, and means whcreby the other of said members will rotate with the engine, said last mentioned means being formed to permit independent rotation of said member including a lug on said member entering an elongated recess in a rotatable part of the engine whereby the end wall of the recess will engage said lug to rotate the valve while permitting the valve to be manually turned in said recess away from said wall.

11. In a rotary engine, high and low pressure cylinders, a hollow shaft therein having abutments fixed thereto, and valve mechanism, said hollow shaft being provided with a port adapted to admit steam to the high pressure cylinder, an opposite port passing around the hollow interior of the shaft diagonally across the axis thereof into the low pressure cylinder, and an exhaust passage leading from the low pressure cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. In a rotary engine, an abutment and means for supporting the same in place, a rotatable cylinder surrounding the abutment, pivoted pistons in the cylinder arranged to cooperate with said abutment, and means for packing the cylinder as it passes the abutment including resiliently supported strips at the opposite sides of the cylinder and in the interior of the periphery thereof, the adjoining sections of the packing being flexibly connected by mortise and tenon joints to preserve an effective seal throughout the extent thereof.

13. In a rotary engine, an abutment and means for supporting the same in place, a rotatable cylinder surrounding the abutment, pivoted pistons in the cylinder arranged to cooperate with said abutment, and means for packing the cylinder as it passes the abutment including resiliently supported strips at the opposite sides of the cylinder and in the interior of the periphery thereof, the adjoining sections of the packing being flexibly connected by mortise and tenon joints to preserve an effective seal throughout the extent thereof, said packing strips being arranged whereby two or more of the same will at all times engage the abutment.

14. In a rotary engine, an abutment and means for supporting the same in place, a rotatable cylinder surrounding the abutment, pivoted pistons in the cylinder arranged to cooperate with said abutment, and means for packing the cylinder as it passes the abutment including resiliently supported strips at the opposite sides of the cylinder and in the interior of the periphery thereof, the adjoining sections of the packing being flexibly connected by mortise and tenon joints to preserve an effective seal throughout the extent thereof, said packing strips having apertures permitting the passage of steam therebeneath, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

15. In an engine, relatively rotatable and non-rotatable members, a packing therebe tween comprising a resiliently-mounted strip seated in a groove in one of the members, means preventing excessive outward movement of said strip under the action of its spring, and a steam inlet leading beneath said strip, said inlet being arranged to balance the steam pressure in front of and behind the strip to prevent said pressure resisting the outward thrusting of the strip.

16. In an engine, an abutment, a cylinder adapted to be rotated around said abutment, a pivoted piston in said cylinder arranged to cooperate with said abutment, said piston having a groove in its outer end, a packing strip in said groove,a spring normally forcing the same outwardly, and means limiting the outward movement of the strip under the action of the spring, the inner edge of the strip being cut away to form a passage for steam therebeneath.

17. In a rotary engine, an abutment, a cylinder inclosing the same, a pivoted piston on said cylinder arranged to cooperate with said abutment, in combination with a packing for the pivoted end of each piston arranged to prevent passage of steam when the piston is in active position and to permit passage of steam around the piston when in closed position.

18. In a rotary engine, a cylinder provided with a partition dividing the same into high and low pressure chambers, an abutment in each of said chambers, pivoted pistons on the interior of the cylinder arranged to cooperate with said abutments and packing strips carried by the opposite surfaces of the partition and the inner surfaces of the walls of the cylinders.

19. In a rotary engine, a cylinder provided with a partition dividing the same into high and low pressure chambers, an abutment in each of said chambers, pivoted pistons on the interior of the cylinder arranged to cooperate with said abutment, and packing strips carried by the opposite surfaces of the partition and the inner surfaces of the walls of the cylinders, and other packing strips flexibly connected to said first mentioned packing strip on the interior of the peripheral portions of the cylinder.

20. In an engine of the character described, relatively rotatable and non-rotatable members arranged to cooperate to actuate the rotatable member and including movable pistons, means outside of the cylinder for shifting said pistons, and an inclosing casing comprising a portion surrounding the peripheral portion of the engine and spaced therefrom to provide a chamber therebetween, and another portion surrounding the piston shifting means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. MINUE. Witnesses JAMES W. MGCUADY, MARGARET M. KELLY. 

